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〃I thought so；〃 said she； in a low voice； and； crossing her arms upon her breast； she walked to and fro； thoughtfully。
Charles Henry looked at her in amazement； but had not the courage to speak to her； for she was so completely changed； that he was almost afraid of her。 There was something so cold and proud about her to… day； something aristocratic in her beauty。 He thought to himself； 〃It is thus that a queen would look when dressed as a peasant。〃 Anna Sophia stood still before him at last； and gave him a tender； almost pitiful glance。
〃Charles Henry；〃 said she； 〃you shall not join the army； I will not suffer it。〃
He sprang from his seat with a cry of joy。
〃You will then marry me； Anna Sophia？〃 said he； exultingly。 〃You will become my wife； so as to keep me here？ You love me too much to let me go！〃 He tried to embrace her； but she waved him off。
〃No；〃 said she； 〃I will not marry you； but； still； you must not join the army； for if you became a deserter； it would break your father's heart； and it would be a disgrace； not only for me； but for the whole village。 Think well over what you have said。 Perhaps you are mistaken in yourself； and only dislike joining the army on your poor father's account。 Question your conscience and your heart； and remember； Charles Henry； that God will hear your answer。 Do you truly believe that you are wanting in couragethat you would fly from the battle…field？〃
〃As truly as there is a God above us； I believe it； Anna Sophia。 It is not belief； it is certainty。 It is not in my nature to be brave； I was not brought up to it； and am therefore without it。 I am an apt farmer； but would be a bad soldier。〃
Anna Sophia sighed deeply； and covered her face with her hands。 Thus she stood for some time in front of her betrothed； and he saw the large tears； stealing through her fingers； fall upon the grass； to be transformed there by the sun into sparkling jewels。
〃Why do you weep； Anna Sophia？〃 asked he； gently。 〃What has so suddenly made you sad？〃
Her hands fell slowly and wearily from her face。 〃I am not weeping now；〃 said she； 〃it is pastI have shed my last tear。 Now we must settle upon what is to be done； for you cannot be a soldier。〃
〃But they will force me；〃 said he； 〃for I am tall； strong； and healthyjust the build for a soldier。〃
Anna Sophia raised herself proudly and stood beside him。 〃I am as tall as you；〃 said she。
〃It is true；〃 replied Charles Henry； laughing； 〃we are of the same height。 We can scarcely fail to have tall； good…looking children some of these days！〃
She shrugged her shoulders slightly； and looked at him in a strange manner。 〃I am as strong and as healthy as you；〃 said she； 〃my sight is as sharp； my hand as sure。 Were I Charles Henry Buschman； I would be a good soldier； for I have courageI would lot tremble at the cannon…balls。〃
〃But； fortunately； you are not a man；〃 said Charles Henry； laughing。 〃You are the beautiful Anna Sophia； who is this day to become my wife to save me from being a soldier。〃
〃No； Charles Henry； the war must be at an end； and Charles Henry Buschman must have returned a brave soldier； before I can marry him。〃
〃You mean；〃 said he； with trembling lips〃you mean I must be a soldier？〃
〃As you have said； they will not let you off。 You are a strong； healthy youthyou are unmarried； and have no one to support； for your father can take care of himself。 Why； then； as the king is in need of soldiers； should they pass you by？〃
〃It is too true。〃 murmured Charles Henry； despondently。 After a slight pause； he said： 〃But I will not be a soldierI cannot！ For it is true I am a cowardI have not a particle of courage！ That is born with one； it cannot be acquired； I have it not； and cannot therefore be a soldier。〃
〃Nor shall you become one；〃 said Anna； with determination。
〃What can you do？〃
〃I will join the army in your stead！〃
Charles Henry stared at her。 He was on the point of laughing； but the sight of her inspired； earnest countenance； in which a world of determination was expressed； sobered him completely。
〃I will do as I said； for I have great courage； and when I think of a battle my heart beats loudly； not with fear but with rapturous joy。 To me； nothing would be more glorious than to die； banner in hand； surrounded by the thunder of cannon； and to cry out exultingly； as the blood flows from my wounds； 'Vive le roi！ vive la patrie！'〃 Her form was raised majestically； her countenance beamed with inspiration； a daring fire sparkled in her eyesshe was so changed in form and expression； that Charles Henry drew back from her in terror。
〃I am afraid of you； Anna Sophia；〃 said he； shuddering。 〃You are changedyou are not like yourself。〃
〃No；〃 said she； 〃nor am I the same。 Yesterday I was Anna Sophia Detzlofffrom to…day I am Charles Henry Buschman。 Do not interrupt meit must be！ You shall not break your father's heartyou shall not bring disgrace upon the village。 The king has called youyou must obey the call。 But I will go in your place； you shall remain quietly at home； thrashing your corn； cutting your hay； and taking care of your kind old father； while I shall be upon the battle… field； fighting in your place。〃
〃Do you then love me well enough to give your life for me？〃 cried Charles Henry； with streaming eyes。
She shook her head slowly； thoughtfully。 〃I do not know if it be love；〃 said she。 〃I only feel that it must be donethere is no other outlet but this to help us all。 Let us speak no more about it… …only tell me that you accept it。〃
〃It is impossible； Anna Sophia。〃
〃Only accept it； and all will be right。〃
〃I cannot。 It would be an everlasting shame to me。〃
She pressed her teeth tightly togetherher eyes gleamed with anger。 〃Hear me out；〃 said she。 〃Go； or staywhichever you doI do not remain here！ I must away and seek my fortune。 I have never been happy； as yetupon the battle…field I may be。 I have nothing to lose； and can therefore win all。 Well； say！ Am I to be a soldier in your stead？〃
〃If you really wish it； I must yield；〃 said he； sadly。 〃You say you have nothing to lose； but I； I have you； and I cannot； will not lose you。 And as you would be angry with and leave me if I said 'No；' I prefer saying 'Yes。'〃
Anna Sophia gave a cry of delight； and； for the first time； gave Charles Henry a willing kiss。 〃Many； many thanks； Charles Henry；〃 said she。 〃Now we will all be happy。〃
Charles Henry sighed。 He could not bring himself to trust in Anna's prophecy。
〃And now；〃 said she； eagerly； 〃how shall we go about it？〃
CHAPTER IV。
FAREWELL TO THE VILLAGE。
In the course of the day； Charles Henry accompanied the other boys to the village； where an officer was to call out the names of those who were drafted。 As his name was called out； he did not change countenancehe remained as gay and cheerful as before； while the other boys were gazing sadly； thoughtfully before them。 Then the officer handed each of them a ticket upon which their names were printed； and ordered them to go immediately to the nearest city； Cleve； and receive their uniforms。 Charles Henry requested a day's leave； as he had various preparations to make for his father； to whom he wished to will the little property he had inherited from his mother。 The officer granted him one day。 Charles Henry left the house gayly； but instead of turning his steps toward the little hut inhabited by his father； he took the path leading to the old school… house； where his bride lived。
She stood at her door waiting for him。 〃Well；〃 said she； hastily； 〃is all right？〃
〃Yes；〃 said he； sadly； 〃I am drafted。〃
She grasped the printed ticket from his hand and hid it in her bosom。 〃Now；〃 said she； 〃you have but to bring me a decent suit of clothes。〃
〃My Sunday suit； Anna；〃 said he； smiling。 〃It is new； I intended to be married in it。〃
〃I shall not hurt it；〃 said she。 〃There is a merchant at Cleve； whom I know to be good and honestI will leave the clothes with him； and next Sunday you can walk to the city for them。〃
〃You will not even keep them to remember me by？〃
〃It is impossible for me ever to forget you； Charles Henry； for I shall bear your name。〃
〃From now on； throughout your whole life； you shall bear it； Anna。 For